Collapsible umbrella-type beach table



Sept. 22, 1959 I. M. KANE COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA-TYPE BEACH TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 23. 1956 m m m m /SABLLE M. KANE.

Sept. 22, 1959 r l. M. KANE COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA-TYPE BEACH TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1956 INVENTOR. UABHLE M. /(A NE A T TOP/VI X COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA-TYPE BEACH TABLE Isabelle M. Kane, Philadelphia, Pa. Application May 23, 1956, Serial No. 586,702

2 Claims. 01. 311-17 The present invention relates to a beach table, and is concerned primarily with such a table that is adapted to be folded into a collapsed condition much in the manner of an umbrella so as to facilitate transportation to and from beach sites.

At the present time, a large segment of the American public frequents our seashore beaches with regularity. Moreover, they are prone to spend long hours on-the beach. During such times, there is need of a beach table for many purposes. It may be used for supporting a radio, sunglasses, various articles of beach equipment, playing of games such as cards, writing letters, and for eating purposes. However, it is believed that at the present time tables are used but little, if any, on beaches by the average American family because of the great ditficulty encountered in transporting a table to and from the beach site. This lack of use may also be attributed to the fact that there is now no known table which is particularly adapted to being set up on the sand.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in view as its foremost objective the provision of a beach table which may be collapsed much in the manner of a conventional umbrella. It is evident that such a table may, in its collapsed condition, readily be stored in any part of an automobile and transported to and from the beach with a maximum of convenience.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beach table, of the character aforesaid, which includes as an essential element a central standard or rod having a lower pointed end. This pointed end is particularly adapted for insertion into the sand or ground when the table is to be used, and serves as a support for maintaining the table upright. It is preferably formed with a thread of wide pitch which may be screwed into the sand. This thread not only facilitates insertion but also serves as a lock to maintain the standard in position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a beach table of the type aforesaid which includes a central stern on which is slidably mounted a rib-and-brace assembly. This rib-and-brace assembly is adapted to be collapsed in the manner of an umbrella, or opened out wide when the table is to be used.

On many occasions, people lying around or lolling on the beach have need of a table of a comparatively low height. On other occasions, such as when playing cards, eating, or writing, they require a table that is upraised a greater height from the beach surface. With this condition in mind, a further object of the invention is to provide a beach table of the type indicated which is susceptible of being adjusted into any of two heights. This end is achieved by providing cooperating elements of a spring detent on the central standard and rib-and-brace assembly which is effective at two spaced points. Thus, when the rib-and-brace assembly is opened, it may be located at either of these heights on the central standard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a beach table of the character indicated in which the ribs carry a flexible table surface, such as canvas or oilcloth, which is readily adapted to being folded when the ribs are collapsed, or distended into a taut condition when the ribs are opened.

When the conditions at the beach are such that the central standard may be firmly anchored in the sand, it is believed that the support afforded thereby will be sufiicient for many uses of the beach table. However, it is recognized that, under other conditions and for other uses of the table which involve placing greater weight thereon, the support offered by the central standard alone will not be adequate. With this condition in mind, a further object of the invention is to provide a beach table of the character aforesaid with an auxiliary support which preferably takes the form of a collapsible rectangular or square frame that is supported by four legs. The legs in turn are adjustable to the two heights of the table; and the auxiliary support is used by opening it into its usable condition, adjusting the legs to the proper height, and then erecting the beach table proper by passing the central standard thereof downwardly through the open frame top of the auxiliary support. The point of the central standard is embedded in the sand until the ribs which carry the table surface engage the top frame of the auxiliary support. Various features and advantages of the invention are tied up with the construction of this auxiliary support.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be here- .inafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a beach table which is collapsible in the manner of a conventional umbrella, together with an auxiliary support in the form of a collapsible frame supported by legs that are adjustable in height.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a beach table that is designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention, and depicted in its collapsed condition.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section through the beach table, as collapsed, and is taken about on the plane represented by the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the beach table as opened out into usable condition.

Figure 4 is a side view taken as a transverse vertical section through the table in its opened-out condition, and is taken about on the plane represented by the line 44 of Figure 3. s

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed section showing one of the spring detents that is employed to hold the table in its opened-out condition.

Figure 6 is a perspective of the auxiliary support when folded into its collapsed condition.

Figure 7 is a perspective showing the auxiliary support as opened and with the legs extended to their fullest height.

Figure 8 is a side view, partlyin section and partly in elevation, of the auxiliary support, illustrating the manner in which the legs are-folded into a collapsed condition; and

Figure 9 is a detailed horizontal section taken about on the plane represented by the line 9-9 of Figure 8 Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the beach table proper of this invention such as illustrated, per se,in Figures 1 and 2, is referred toin its entirety by the reference character B; while the auxiliary support such as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8 is identified in its entirety by'the reference character S.

table B is shown as including a central standard or stem- 10 that is turned over at the top to provide a handle 11, and whichis pointed at the lower end as indicated at 12 to facilitate its'beingembedded in the sand of a beach, such as represented at 13. The pointed end 12: has. a thread 9 in the form of an outstanding spiral or helical rib which may be screwedinto the ground in an obvious manner. This thread 9 serves to lock the standard 10 in its upright position. The stem 16 issolid and is prefera-bly made of wood. It is formed with three recesses 14, 15, and 16, two of which are to be used at any one time for cooperation with spring detents, as will later become apparent. The recess 14 is clearly shown on an enlarged scale in Figure A lower abutment or stop member 17 is formed with a central bore which slidably receives the standard 10. This stop member has a bottom collar 18 which carries a springbiased detent 19. The inner end or nose of the latter is adapted to be received in either of the recesses 1501- 16. The top face of the stop member 17 is of a cup-shaped formation providing an annular groove 20 immediately about the standard and a larger annular groove or space 21.

A brace-carrier 22 has a central bore which slidably receives the standard 10; The lower end of this carrier 22 is adapted to be received in the groove 20 when the table is extended, as illustrated in Figure 4. Each of a plurality of braces 23 has its inner end pivotally anchored to the carrier 22 as indicated at 24.

A spacer 25 is positioned above the. carrier 22 and has a central bore that slidably receives the standard 10s A rib-carrier 26 also has a central bore that slidably receives the standard 10. This rib-carrier 26 shown more clearly in Figure 5 and is provided with a spring-biased detent 27. It will be noted that the detent 27 has a nose 28. that is received in the recess 14, and a head 29 which is adapted to be grasped by the fingers to pull the nose 28 out. of the recess 14 against the influence of the spring 30.. The spring 30 is an expansion coil spring disposed about the detent 27, and bears against the large nose 14 at one end and a flange 31 formed on the rib-carrier 26.

Av plurality of ribs is shown at 32. Each of these ribs 32 has its lower end pivotally secured to rib-carrier 26, as indicated at 33. It will be noted that the outer end of each. of the braces 23 is pivotally connected to one of the ribs 32, as indicated at 34. A flexible table cover 35 of oilcloth, canvas, or other appropriate fabric is secured to the ribs 32 on the upper side in a well-known manner. This fabric constitutesthe table top when the ribs 32 are opened out in the manner depicted in Figure 4.

At. this point, it is well to note that, when the table is. in the collapsed conditon. depicted in. Figures. 1 and 2, the stop member 17 assumes its lowermost position. It is held in this position by the spring-biased detent 19 being engaged in the recess 16. In this collapsed state, the rib-carrier 26 assumes the upraised position depicted in which the ribs 32 are drawn inwardly about the central standard 10.

When the table is to be opened at its lower level, the carrier 26 is moved downwardly until. the spring detent 27 engages the intermediate recess 15. This downward movement extends the ribs 32, braces 23, and table cover 35 into the usable condition illustrated; and the table is locked in this condition by the engagement of the spring detent 27 in the recess 15.

When the table is to be used at the higher level, the rib-carrier 26 is moved upwardly until the spring detent .27 engages the recess 14; and the stop member 17 moved upwardly until the spring detent 19 is engaged in; the recess 15. t The auxiliary support Referring now more particularly to Figures 7- 9', incl'usive, the auxiliary supports. shown as. comprising an 4 open-top frame defined by two U-shaped halves 36 and 37. With the exception of a handle 38 which is mounted on the U-shaped half 36, the parts 36 and 37 are substantially duplicates. Each is of an angle-bar construction providing a top flange 39 and a side flange 40. Moreover, each includes short sides 41 which are hingedly connected, as indicated at 42. The hinges 42 are located at the lower ends of end flanges 43, which are in abutting engagement when the frame is opened.

Four legs L are pivotally mounted at each corner of the frame top made up of the frame parts 36 and 37. The legs L are all alike, and only one of them is herein described, as that is. believed to be sufiicient for the purposes of this specification. Thus each leg L includes an upper channel section 44, which is pivotally connected as indicated at 45 to the side flange 40 at a corner of the frame top half 36 or 37, as the case may be. Each leg L also includes a bottom section 46 which is pivotally connected to the lower end'of the upper chanel section 44, as indicated at 47', into which it is adapted to be folded as shown in Figure 8. The lower end of the leg section 46 is preferably pointed, as shown at 48.

Each of the legs L is supported in its erect position by a collapsible diagonal brace 49 that is made up of two links that are pivotally connected together as shown at 50, with one end of one link being pivotally connected to the upper leg section 44, as. shown at 51; while. the other end is pivotally connected to the side flange 40 as shown at 52.

While the manner of using the auxiliary support is believed to be obvious from the illustration of the drawings and description of parts given, it may be briefly outlined by notingthat the auxiliary support, as fully collapsed, assumes the condition illustrated in Figure 6. In this condition, the lower leg sections 46 are folded into and received in the channel sections 44 of the legs. The channel sections 44 are in turn swung upwardly into the angle defined by the flanges 39 and 40 of the frame top parts 36 and 37. These parts are in turn folded on the hinges 42 into the position of Figure 6. It is evident that, in this position, the handle 38 may be availed of to conveniently carry the auxiliary support about.

When the auxiliary support is to be used, it will first be assumed that the beach table is to be supported at its lower level. The frame top parts 36 and 37 are first swung. into the opened position of Figure 7' about" the hinges 42. The upper channel leg sections 44 are then swung downwardly about the pivots 45' into positions perpendicular to the opened table top. The braces 49 are then snapped into position to maintain the legs in the position described.

The; auxiliary support in this. position is now placed at an appropriate location on the beach. The pointed end 12 of the table B is then passed downwardly" through the opened-support top and embedded in the sand. The beach table is then opened so that the ribs. 32 are supported" by the opened top of the support S- When the table B is to be used at the higher level, the support S is opened in the same manner described, with the further operation of opening the lower leg. sections 46 into. the position illustrated in Figure 7. Thusuthe ribs 32 of the table B are supported at the higher level.

While a preferred specific embodiment'of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms, and devices illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into' pra'ctiife within the purview of the appended claims;

What is claimed is:

1. In a collapsible beach table,. a central standard, a stop member slidable on said standard, cooperating, elements of 'a spring-biased detent onsaid' standard and' Ship member respectively, a brace-carrier slidable on said standard, a plurality of braces having their inner ends pivotally connected to said brace-carrier, a rib-carrier slidable on said standard, cooperating elements of a spring detent on said rib-carrier and standard respectively, a plurality of ribs having their inner ends pivotally connected to said rib-carrier, a pivotal connection between the outer end of each brace and one of said ribs, a flexible table cover carried by said ribs, and a spacer slidable on said standard and interposed between said brace-carrier and said ribcarrier.

2. In combination, a collapsible beach table including a central standard, a rib-and-brace assembly slidable on said standard, and a flexible table cover on the ribs of said assembly; and a collapsible auxiliary support for said beach table, said support comprising an open-frame top of rectangular formation, a leg pivotally secured to said frame top at each corner, and a collapsible brace for maintaining each leg perpendicular to said frame top, said open frame-top supportingly engaging the ribs of said rib-and-brace assembly when the table is opened into usable position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,925 Grifiin Mar. 21, 1893 1,416,048 Miller May 16, 1922 1,421,779 Heerling July 4, 1922 1,436,772 Milton et a1. Nov. 28, 1922 1,470,639 Peller Oct. 16, 1923 1,601,569 Kennedy Sept. 28, 1926 2,039,805 Knight May 5, 1936 2,063,581 Campbell Dec. 8, 1936 2,254,939 Elias Sept. 2, 1941 2,281,740 Blickhan May 5, 1942 2,454,202 Pierik Nov. 16, 1948 2,556,362 Crumpter June 12, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 274,170 Switzerland June 16, 1951 

